Compare towns

Jay vs Hancock vs Sandgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureJayHancockSandgate
People
Population
471
2,518Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
52.1±10.5Lowest
34% above U.S.
56.3±6.4Highest
45% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
Hancock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.2%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Jay and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Hancock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Hancock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,792±$25kHighest
7% below U.S.
$72,285±$5k
10% below U.S.
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
Jay and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$276,800±$51kHighest
17% below U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,171±$65
17% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,869Lowest
40% below U.S.
$2,778
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
5.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #117 of 133 in ME —
School district Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Hancock Public Schools —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.